Abstract
There are many countries throughout the world where the local population’s water supply is exclusively obtained from groundwater and river discharge that is contaminated with arsenic. The Bolivian Altiplano which is a drainage basin within the Andes Mountains is an area of major concern; the arsenic levels are frequently well above The Environmental Protection Agency’s and The World Health Organizations minimum guidelines. Consumption of arsenic contaminated water can lead to a variety of minor to major health concerns. Mountainous areas are prime locations for identifying significantly high concentrations of arsenic in groundwater due to mountain building processes within their geologic past. Within the mountainous areas, drainage basins where contaminated water coverages, aquifers that are composed of arsenic rich minerals and hydrothermal springs seem to be the locations of the greatest aquatic arsenic concentrations. There is a strong need for public and private opinion to move toward working together so that global and regional challenges can be met with the proper skillsets. It is important for scientist of all disciplines, health professionals, educators and public servants to combat the issue of contaminated well water so that prolonged risky exposure can be mitigated to prevent serious health implications.
Recommended Citation
Rondini, Michael
(2017)
"Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater Has Serious Global Health Consequences: A Case Study from Bolivian Altiplano,"
Virginia Journal of Public Health: Vol. 1:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/vjph/vol1/iss1/7